Emergency Prep Menu

Emergency Management

What Is Emergency Management?

Emergency Management is a general term for all aspects of emergency
and disaster planning which usually consists of organized analysis, planning,
and assignment of resources to best administer emergency services to the community
in the event of a disaster or large emergency.

Emergency Management consists of four phases:

Preparedness - This phase can include establishing response procedures,
conducting training and holding exercises that simulate disaster response.
The purpose of preparedness activities is to make actual disaster response
more effective. Individual and household preparedness is a vital part of a
community's overall safety; having adequate insurance is one way a household
can help itself be ready for an emergency.

Mitigation - Mitigation involves activities that are intended to actually
reduce losses suffered in a disaster. Examples of mitigation activities
include slope stabilization to protect from landslides, elevation of buildings
vulnerable to floods, and breakwaters and sea walls to reduce the effects
of storm waves and surges. A common mitigation activity for households
in Alaska is the creation of defensible space around homes to reduce the likelihood
of loss in the case of a wildfire.

Recovery - After a disaster or large emergency, communities must engage
in well-planned and efficient recovery activities. Recovery involves
rebuilding, re-establishing services, and working to establish normal business,
economic, and societal activities.

Emergency management activities are intended to save lives, reduce losses
and injuries, and establish swift recovery from disasters. Effective
preparedness and mitigation activities can significantly reduce the effects
of disasters on a given entity, whether it be a state, a local community,
or a household. We've assembled a list of hazards
that regularly affect Juneau. Please take a moment to browse through
the Web site and explore the many links we've assembled to help you prepare
for hazards.

The Personal and Household Preparedness
link on the left-hand menu provides information on activities that residents
can undertake to reduce their own vulnerability to disasters.